John 7 - ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible

7:1–13 In John 7–8, Jesus’ Christological claims grow even more dramatic, and the response of the Jews grows increasingly hostile. Nothing is as disruptive as grace. The Jews wanted to put Jesus to death. Indeed, they did put him to death, but only at the appointed time (see 7:6) and only for God’s saving purposes (Acts 2:23–24). God’s sovereignty never sleeps. Even the most disastrous and inexplicable of events are under his wise, governing hand.

Even members of Jesus’ own family struggled with their half brother’s identity—coming to faith only after his resurrection (Mark 3:21; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 15:7). None of us can presume upon our relationship to Jesus. It comes by grace alone through faith alone. We too, like Nicodemus, must be born from above so that we might believe from within.

7:14–24 In dramatic fashion, Jesus moved into the temple courts and began to teach. His words generated astonishment and rage: astonishment because of the depth of knowledge he possessed as a seemingly untrained rabbi; rage because his teaching exposed the people’s sin. At the same time his teaching further distinguished him, his earthly authority, and his heavenly status.

The gospel of grace that comes to us because of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done in our place does not land on people in a neutral way. It is either received with joy or rejected with contempt. The gospel is the aroma of life to some and the aroma of death to others (2 Cor. 2:15–16). There is no middle ground.

7:25–44 The Feast of Booths was a joyful celebration in Jerusalem. It commemorated the ingathering of the fall crops and the years the Israelites spent living in tents as they journeyed through the wilderness (Lev. 23:33–43; Num. 29:2–38). Two symbols—water and light—played a significant role in this high feast. During the course of the week, water was drawn from Siloam and poured upon the altar, in commemoration of the refreshing stream that had come forth miraculously out of the rock at Meribah (Ex. 17:1–7).

Jesus’ loud invitation to the thirsty was a startling, even scandalous declaration. He was claiming to be the rock that Moses struck in the wilderness—the rock from which life-sustaining water flowed (see also 1 Cor. 10:1–4). But Jesus was also looking ahead to the day of Pentecost, when “in the last days” he would pour out his Spirit (Joel 2:28–29; Acts 2). After his ascension, the Father gave the Spirit to Jesus without limit (John 3:34), and Jesus gives us the Spirit without reservation (John 1:33)—both enabling us to believe and confirming that we do believe (Eph. 1:13–14).

7:45–52 Nicodemus, who earlier sought out Jesus in the darkness, now seems ready to become his defender. While not actually making declarations of Christ’s true status, he at least tries to slow down the plans of Christ’s enemies. Nicodemus is not yet ready fully to declare his loyalty to Christ, but there has been movement in his heart that will mature further in its dedication (cf. 19:39–42).

Though the change may come in stages, knowing Jesus ultimately changes everything about us. To borrow some phrases from an old hymn, the gospel “charms our fears” of rejection and “breaks the power” of our addiction to people’s approval. For we have, in Christ, the approval of God himself. He is our Father who sings over us (Zeph. 3:17).